Virginia Tech overcomes big early deficit to get huge win at N.C. State

RALEIGH, N.C. – By the time Tyrod Taylor came off the field Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium, his head was still swimming from what had transpired in Virginia Tech's 41-30 win against No. 23 North Carolina State.

His state was understandable considering he'd absorbed a vicious hit in the second quarter from linebacker Nate Irving, swallowed a muscle relaxer at halftime and still managed to guide Tech (3-2 overall, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) on a dramatic late drive for its most critical win of the season after falling behind by 17 points.

It was a victory that not only tied Taylor with Bruton High graduate Bryan Randall for the most career wins (26) by a quarterback under coach Frank Beamer, but it also marked the biggest comeback in Beamer's 24 years at Tech. Of course, both of those achievements were mere footnotes to what the win did for Tech in the grand scheme of a season that appeared headed south after an 0-2 start.

"I've been proud of this program a lot of times, but I don't know I've been ever more proud than what we got accomplished here (Saturday)," said Beamer, whose team trailed 17-0 midway through the second quarter.

Taylor led the way by completing 12 of 24 passes for 123 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while running 16 times for 121 yards. He withstood an enormous blast from Irving with 5:23 left in the second quarter during one of Tech's four first half drives that lasted just three plays.

"(Backup quarterback) Logan (Thomas) looked at me and said 'You alright?' I said 'Yeah, one of my legs would have to fall off before I come off the field'" Taylor said.

With expected wins on tap in home games against Central Michigan, Wake Forest and Duke, Saturday's game was crucial for Tech if it wanted to gain a significant advantage in the ACC's Coastal Division. N.C. State (4-1, 1-1), which got 362 of its 507 total yards on 21 of 49 passing from quarterback Russell Wilson, didn't make it easy.

Trailing 30-28 after N.C. State kicker Josh Czajkowski's 42-yard field goal with 4:42 remaining, Tech faced the prospect of having to get into at least field goal range after starting the ensuing drive from its own 24-yard line. Taylor had other plans in mind.

"We didn't have to rush anything, just take what they give you and eventually put the ball in the end zone," said Taylor regarding the goals of the offense as they took the field. "That's the main goal. I told the guys 'We need to put some points up here. They're giving us the ball back. We've had opportunities earlier. Let's do it now. Don't hold your heads down.'"

Darren Evans, who had 15 carries for 160 yards (second-best single-game total of his career) and two touchdowns, started Tech's decisive drive by gaining 18 yards on two runs, while Taylor added five yards on a scramble.

Still, Tech, which enjoyed its largest previous comeback under Beamer in 1995 when it bounced back from a 29-14 deficit against Virginia to win 36-29, was confronted on the drive with a third-and-3 from its own 47. Taylor dropped back to pass, but he opted to scramble up the middle of the field, gaining 12 yards and an all-important first down.

Two plays later, Taylor found wide receiver Jarrett Boykin for a 39-yard touchdown pass to put Tech up 34-30 with 1:27 left. Boykin juked two defenders on his way to the end zone.

Tech put the game away on N.C. State's next play, as Hosley picked off Wilson for the third time and returned it 42 yards to N.C. State's 6, where Tech eventually cashed in again via a 3-yard touchdown run by Evans with 28 seconds left. Evans ran for 128 of his yards in the second half.

The efforts of Taylor and Evans, who propelled Tech to 440 total yards, helped the Hokies overcome the Wilson-paced offensive attack of the Wolfpack. Wilson teamed with receivers Owen Spencer (six catches for 145 yards) and Jarvis Williams (four catches for 103 yards and a touchdown) to lead N.C. State to plays of 20 or more yards against Tech's defense, including nine on pass plays.

Despite Wilson's passing numbers, it was far from a perfect day for the player that entered the day as a runaway early season choice for ACC Player of the Year honors. He was victimized by cornerback Jayron Hosley, who logged three interceptions against the normally accurate Wilson.

Hosley became the first Tech player with three interceptions in a game since 2002, when Garnell Wilds did it against Syracuse. Wilson, who came into the game with 11 touchdown passes and one interception on the season, tossed three interceptions in a game for the first time since last November in a 38-31 win against Maryland. He also posted his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season.

"We kind of joked all week that Russell wakes up out of bed throwing for 300 (yards)," Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said. "We knew it was going to be like that.

"He's that talented of a player. He got outside the pocket a couple times early and bought some time…I thought we played our guts out for 60 minutes. You can't ask them to do anymore."

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